Studio executive who revived Chaplin interest dies

[September 30, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The movie studio executive who helped revive interest in silent movie icon Charlie Chaplin and orchestrated the aging star's return to the U.S. 40 years ago has died in Los Angeles. Mo Rothman was 92.

His family tells the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/rkntcq) that Rothman died on Sept. 15. The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/rfvTeU) reported Monday that his wife, Lyn, confirmed the death.

Rothman was a United Artists manager when he met Chaplin in the 1950s.

Chaplin's image was later tarnished by sex scandals and liberal politics. He moved to Switzerland with the rights to his movies in a bitter, self-imposed exile.

In 1971, Rothman led a group who paid Chaplin for access to his films.

A year later, Chaplin visited the United States in what became a triumphant return.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/

[Associated Press]

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